Southeast announces arts season

Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus recently announced its lineup for visual and performing arts during the 2014-2015 season -- its eighth -- which will offer a breadth of performances by professional touring companies as well as the departments of Music, and Theatre and Dance at the university.

Season tickets are available.

Bob Cerchio, assistant director of the Earl and Margie Holland School of Visual and Performing Arts who booked the touring series, says he is happy with the lineup.

"It's always a challenge trying to book something new and interesting each season," Cerchio said. "This year, I'm really excited about the international focus -- events from the People's Republic of China, Ireland, Argentina and Russia. Our audience can go 'round the world without leaving home.

"Being a jazz buff, it was a real coup being able to bring Peter Nero here to play a concert with our Southeast jazz students. And, we're getting the artistic director from Giordano Dance Chicago to work with participants in the American College Dance Association's regional conference. I'm always happy when we can combine great entertainment with great teaching. So I have to say, this is going to be a terrific year all 'round," he said.

The River Campus box office is accepting season ticket orders only for the symphony, touring and theater and dance series or for a master series consisting of all three-plus Nero appearances.

Ellen Farrow, River Campus box office manager, said season-ticket holders may retain their seat location from year to year, with the option to move to better seats when available. They also receive priority for added events, she said. Cerchio confirmed he negotiating for a very special late addition, so season-ticket status may come into play. The deadline for last year's season ticket holders to retain the same seats for the upcoming season is June 13.

Season tickets will remain on sale through the opening day of the first show in each of the respective series, although the closer to the first performance, the lower the chance of having the same seats for every event. The last date for guaranteed same-seat season tickets is July 7.

Individual ticket sales begin July 14 through the River Campus box office and RiverCampusEvents.com or 651-2265.

Unless otherwise noted, all series events will be at 7:30 p.m. in the Bedell Performance Hall. Seating is divided into two price ranges. Top-price seats include the orchestra and lower balcony sections; lesser-priced seats are on the mezzanine and upper balcony. Tickets for the seven-event touring series are $275 and $233. Tickets for the five-event symphony series are $64 and $52. Tickets for the six-event theater and dance Series are $90 and $84. Tickets for the master series (all three series plus Nero) are $468 and $402. To view a seating diagram of the Bedell Performance Hall, visit RiverCampusEvents.com/ticket-information.

For more information or to view a calendar, visit RiverCampusEvents.com. A full-color, 20-page brochure is in the mail to ticket patrons and may be obtained by visiting or calling the box office at 651-2265.

Touring series

The touring series kicks off Oct. 23 with The National Acrobats and Circus of the People's Republic of China. Direct from Beijing, this internationally acclaimed company has won more than 20 gold and silver medals, toured 80 countries and influenced Cirque de Soleil.

Earl and Margie Holland, for whom the Holland School of Visual and Performing Arts is named, have selected "Anything Goes" as their special choice event. Performed Nov. 1, the Cole Porter comedy includes memorable standards such as "I Get a Kick Out of You," "You're the Top" and "Anything Goes."

The series continues with "Irish Christmas in America" on Nov. 4, "Tango Buenos Aires" on Feb. 3, the jazz dance company Giordano Dance Chicago on March 24 and the Broadway musical "Memphis" on March 30. The series comes to a close April 24 when the Russian National Ballet Theatre returns to perform "The Sleeping Beauty."

Symphony series

The Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra will offer a preview to its season with its "Symphony Sampler" at 2 and 3 p.m. Sept. 21 in the Shuck Music Recital Hall. Admission is free. This will be an introduction to the symphony with brief selections from the upcoming season.

The orchestra's 14th season will begin with its gala season opener with flutist Viviana Guzman at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14. Chilean-born flutist and international artist Guzman will perform music from Spain and Latin America.

The Symphony Orchestra, Southeast Missouri Choral Union and University Choir will combine for Mass in G Major by Franz Schubert at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2. Also on the program will be "London Symphony" by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

The season continues March 10 with "Symphonic Stars!" featuring "Mars" from the "Planets" and selections from the "Star Wars Suite" by John Williams. The orchestra closes the season April 27 with Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, with the Southeast Missouri Symphony and University Choir performing with the Southern Illinois Symphony and Choir.

Theater, dance series

The series opens in October with several performances of the hit musical "Hairspray," which won eight Tony Awards, including best musical. It will be followed in November by several presentations of "Macbeth," Shakespeare's classic tale of corruption.

Also in November, the Southeast Department of Theatre and Dance will showcase its students and professional faculty as well as guest artists in "Fall for Dance 2014."

The series continues in February and March with performances of "The King and I," the popular musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein.

"Spring into Dance" is scheduled in April, and the series will close with the comedy "Daisy Pulls It Off."

Music events and art exhibits

The Department of Music will present a series of concerts in a variety of styles -- symphony orchestra, symphonic band, wind symphony and chamber music; jazz; choral concerts; opera; percussion groups; and the Guitar Ensemble.

Among the selections are the operas "Amahl and the Night Visitors" and "Amelia Goes to the Ball," slated for January; and Nero's performance, "A Salute to Art Tatum with Bassist Michael Barnett," with Southeast's jazz musicians performing selections such favorites as "Over the Rainbow," "Ain't Misbehavin'," "Someone to Watch Over Me" and other Nero favorites.

The Crisp Museum will host six exhibitions during the season. "Art and Artifacts: Highlights from the Collections" opens July 1 and includes works by Rodin, Picasso, Jacob Lawrence, Jake Wells, Maria Martinez, Tony Da and other luminaries.